Admiral's Cup 1981

This article features a selection of photos from the 1981 Admiral's Cup from Guy Gurney and Phil Uhl, as well as a recently published video of the series (by retro yachting) as narrated by the late Bob Fisher. The series was won by Britain, with the USA second and Germany third, although the subsequent controversy over the rating of British yacht Victory of Burnham was considered by many to place something of a cloud over that result.

Part of the 1981 Admiral's Cup fleet Dusselboot, Intuition, Bribon III, Wee Willie Winkie, Panda and Attaque (photo Guy Gurney)

Light airs in the first race, with Woolly Jumper, Victory, Almagores and Scaramouche (photo Phil Uhl)

The crew of Canada's Pachena endure the light airs of the first day (photo Phil Uhl)

Bermuda's Caiman II, winner of the first race, runs aground and the crew scramble aloft to try to help the yacht break free (photo Guy Gurney)

Ireland's Woolly Jumper in light airs, likely during the first race (photo Phil Uhl)

The second race saw more favourable breezes - here the fleet sets off with (left to right, Wee Willie Winkie, Moonduster, Stars & Stripes, Ragamuffin, Intuition, Hurrycane,Victory and Mandrake), photo Guy Gurney

Stars & Stripes leads a group of boats on a reaching leg during Race 2 (photo Guy Gurney)

Ireland's Regardless tacks behind France's Tahiti during the 1981 Admiral's Cup (photo Phil Uhl)

Dragon, a Dubois-39 footer, was the small boat of the British team, and found her legs in the offshore races (photo Phil Uhl)

The start of the Channel Race, with Hong Kong's La Pantera to windward of France's Tahiti and Italy's Almagores (photo Phil Uhl)

Light air downwind sailing, possibly during the start of the Channel Race, with (left to right) Accanito, Hurrycane, Moonduster, Runaway, Caiman and Ra Carat (photo Guy Gurney)

The start of the Channel Race, with Midnight Sun to leeward of Runaway and Accanito (photo Phil Uhl)

Pinta at the start of the Channel Race (photo Phil Uhl)

Runaway seen here again after the start of the Channel Race, with Flirt of Paget just ahead, and Container visible to the right (photo Phil Uhl)

Italy's Almagores is sandwiched in a pileup of Admiral's Cuppers with other yachts at a turning mark during the Channel Race (photo Guy Gurney)

Another view of Britain's Dragon (photo Guy Gurney)

 

More photographs from the 1981 Admiral's Cup can be seen here from Day 1 and Day 2 of the series.

Article published August 2026